Emily Lockman fired a four-hitter, but suffered her first career loss.

Photo Courtesy Katie Brown

Courtesy: NU Media Relations

02/24/2013

Cathedral City, Calif. - Freshman right-hander Emily Lockman fired a four-hitter against eighth-ranked Cal on Sunday, but the Golden Bears scored the game's only run to edge the Nebraska softball team, 1-0, in the final game at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.

The loss dropped the Huskers to 11-4 on the year, with all four losses coming to top-20 opponents. Three of the four losses have been by two runs or less, including a pair of 1-0 setbacks.

Lockman (4-1) suffered the first loss of her career, despite an outstanding effort. In 6.0 innings, Lockman allowed only four hits and walked just one. She went toe-to-toe with Cal ace Jolene Henderson, a two-time NFCA All-American, who tossed a two-hit shutout, her fifth of the year. Junior Taylor Edwards collected Nebraska's second hit to lead off the top of the fourth inning, but Henderson then retired 12 of the final 13 batters she faced to preserve the shutout. With the win, Henderson improved to 9-2, while the Bears moved to 11-2.

Cal plated the only run Henderson would need in the bottom of the third. A leadoff bloop double that fell in front of sophomore Jordan Bettiol in left gave Cal its first scoring chance. The Bears converted two batters later on a sacrifice fly from Cheyenne Cordes, who hit a shallow fly ball to center that freshman Kiki Stokes caught with a diving effort.

The Bears threatened again in the bottom of the fifth, using a two-out walk and a pair of singles to load the bases. But Lockman escaped the jam by getting Britt Vonk to pop up to second.

Nebraska attempted a late rally in the top of the seventh. Senior Brooke Thomason began the inning with a walk, and she moved to second with one out on a sacrifice bunt from junior Tatum Edwards. Thomason stood at third with two outs after moving up a base on a ground out, but she was stranded there.

The Huskers are scheduled to return to action next weekend in Oklahoma, playing in Norman on Friday, in Oklahoma City on Saturday and in Stillwater on Sunday.